Holy Backboard

2026-27 Western Conference Preview

Dustin and Sage reunite for the 446th episode of Holy Backboard to preview the upcoming NBA season and rank the Western Conference from 1–15 based on projected regular-season finish. The guys factor in injuries, load management, roster construction, depth, and each team's incentives heading into the season. They start at the bottom of the West, including Sacramento, before breaking down the outlooks for the Clippers, Grizzlies, Pelicans, Jazz, Mavericks, and Warriors. They debate whether the Suns can establish themselves as a solid playoff team, question the Lakers' offseason moves and defense, and spend plenty of time figuring out where the Portland Trail Blazers belong. How much will the coaching changes matter? Can Portland's guard rotation hold up defensively? And just how important are the Blazers' depth and Robert Williams III's health? At the top, Dustin and Sage have Oklahoma City and San Antonio leading the West. They also take a quick look at the Eastern Conference, pick their favorite League Pass teams for the season, and close with early MVP considerations and how the NBA's new officiating points of emphasis could impact the league. Who's too high? Who's too low? And which Western Conference teams are the hardest to predict?

Tough Schedule Exactly What Trail Blazers Need

Dustin and Sage return for the 445th episode of the Holy Backboard Podcast to break down the latest news surrounding the Portland Trail Blazers. They discuss the recent approval of $573 million in public funding for arena renovations and why the agreement provides more confidence that the Trail Blazers are staying in Portland for the long haul. The guys also look back at Summer League, including Yang's development. While he showed flashes of being able to dominate lower-level competition, he remains a multi-year project who needs to improve his lateral movement, strength, rebounding, and defense while adjusting some of the habits he developed playing in the CBA. Dustin and Sage then dive into Portland's guard-heavy roster, how coach Micah Nori could distribute minutes, and why playing time needs to be earned rather than determined by draft position or reputation. They also discuss the health of several key players and how injuries could impact the rotation. Plus, they explain their optimism about Ja Morant's potential impact as a playmaker, Portland's flexibility with its future draft assets, and what moves could still be ahead. Finally, they break down the 2026-27 Trail Blazers schedule, including a brutal early stretch of road games, 14 back-to-backs, and plenty of matchups against elite competition.

Blazers Blockbuster Lands Ja Morant in Rip City

Dustin and Sage jump on an emergency episode of the Holy Backboard Podcast after the stunning news that the Portland Trail Blazers have acquired 26-year-old All-NBA guard Ja Morant. The duo breaks down the reported trade that sends Jerami Grant and Kris Murray to Memphis, explaining why they view it as a "Moneyball" move to land a superstar talent at a bargain price. They discuss how Morant immediately addresses Portland's biggest weaknesses with his elite ballhandling, rim pressure, playmaking, and star power while weighing the risks surrounding his outside shooting and off-court history. They also examine how Morant's contract aligns with the Blazers' competitive window alongside Damian Lillard and Deni Avdija. The conversation shifts to the basketball fit, including the challenges of pairing Morant with an aging Lillard returning from an Achilles injury, potential defensive concerns, staggered rotations, and how Scoot Henderson could thrive in more off-ball opportunities. Finally, Dustin and Sage look ahead to free agency, discuss Jrue Holiday's role as Portland's most likely trade chip, and explain why they believe this blockbuster is only the beginning of a busy offseason for the Blazers.

Blazers Bring in Micah Nori as Head Coach

Dustin and Sage are back on the Holy Backboard Podcast to break down the Trail Blazers' offseason. They begin by honoring legendary former Blazers head coach Rick Adelman, reflecting on his impact in Portland, his success with the Kings and Rockets, and why his offensive philosophy was years ahead of its time. The conversation then shifts to Portland's hiring of former Timberwolves lead assistant Micah Nori. The duo discusses his coaching and scouting background, Minnesota's reputation for elite preparation and defensive game planning, and whether Nori's reported one-year guaranteed contract raises concerns about long-term stability, staff continuity, and building a lasting culture. Dustin and Sage also react to the NBA Draft and ESPN's broadcast, debate the value of draft picks versus proven players, and look ahead to Portland's biggest offseason priorities. Topics include the continued development of Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, adding much-needed shooting—potentially through second-round picks—bringing back Robert Williams III, and finding a pathway for Damian Lillard's return by moving Jrue Holiday. They also explain why they're skeptical of pursuing expensive trade targets such as Trey Murphy III and Anthony Davis. All that and more on this week's episode of the Holy Backboard Podcast.

Opportunities Missed as Offensive Drought Dooms Blazers … Twice

Dustin and Sage recap the 442nd Holy Backboard Podcast after the Trail Blazers squandered two home playoff chances against the Spurs, falling behind 3–1 and feeling the season is near its end. They break down Game 3's 120–108 loss after leading 82–67 late in the third, criticizing late-game iso-heavy offense, lack of ball movement, turnovers, and poor rebounding, even without Wemby. They then cover Game 4's 114–93 defeat despite a 58–41 halftime lead, highlighting a disastrous second half, defensive communication failures, and embarrassingly low scoring. They argue that Portland underachieved all season, stress the need for better coaching, clearer roles, more shooting, and two-way players, critique Jrue Holiday's high-usage mistakes, and discuss the absence of vocal/emotional leadership. They also note a lackluster playoff arena atmosphere and outline hopes for Game 5: start Rob Williams, empower younger players, compete with effort, and avoid injuries.

Scoot Shines in San Antonio

Dustin and Sage recap Game 2 immediately after Portland's 106–103 comeback win in San Antonio to tie the series 1–1 heading to Portland for Games 3 and 4. They break down Victor Wembanyama leaving with a concussion after a Jrue Holiday play, discuss concussion protocol timelines, and note the impact of potentially losing him for multiple games. The hosts highlight Scoot Henderson's game-high 31 points and his growing comfort hunting midrange looks, as well as the importance of late-game rebounding and limiting live-ball turnovers. They praise Robert Williams' two-way impact, discuss Toumani Camara's bounce-back defense and timely threes, and examine Deni Avdija's drop from a historic Game 1 to a tougher Game 2 due to the Spurs' defensive focus. They criticize Jerami Grant's struggles, debate rotation tweaks, preview Game 3 X-factors, and predict a physical battle.

Victorious in the Valley, Previewing San Antonio

Dustin and Sage recap the Blazers' 114–110 win over Phoenix in a high-stakes, Amazon Prime–only broadcast, criticizing the lack of local access while celebrating Deni Avdija's dominant 41/12/7 performance and Portland's late-game execution. They argue Portland didn't deserve the win based on a sloppy, three-heavy start, but credit improved rhythm, clutch rim pressure from Deni and Shaedon, and key corner threes and a late strip from Jerami Grant. They highlight bench advantages (33 points vs Phoenix's 17), defensive work on Devin Booker, and debate Tiago Splitter's rotation choices, heavy minutes for Jrue Holiday, and the need to trust Scoot Henderson. The episode then previews a tough Round 1 matchup with the 62-win Spurs, emphasizing turnovers, three-point shooting, rebounding, and slowing San Antonio's speed, with cautious series predictions ranging from a sweep to a six-game series.

Previewing the Play-In Versus Phoenix

Dustin and Sage recap Portland's two straight wins, a 116–97 victory over the Clippers and a 122–110 win over the Kings, noting the team's composure, defense, and ball security in a high-leverage spot plus the return of Shaedon Sharpe. They discuss injury/availability expectations (likely everyone except Jerami Grant and Damian Lillard), debate keeping a tight eight-to-nine-man rotation, and highlight Scoot Henderson's surge as a confident two-way guard. They break down Deni Avdija's standout 35-point game and the importance of scoring through contact rather than hunting fouls, plus concerns about inconsistent shooting from key players. Looking ahead to the play-in in Phoenix, they emphasize limiting turnovers, attacking matchups, involving Devin Booker on defense, and making Donovan Clingan a focal point, with Robert Williams and Kris Murray cited as potential unsung contributors.

The Race for Eighth

Dustin and Sage break down the 438th Holy Backboard Podcast as the Blazers near the end of the season with Shaedon Sharpe and Vít Krejčí potentially returning, stressing strict minutes for Sharpe and hoping for more Sharpe–Scoot time. They recap two road losses: a gut-punch OT collapse in Denver after an 18-point fourth-quarter lead despite a franchise-record 25 threes, and a 112–101 loss to San Antonio. They cite Portland's failure to win non-Jokic minutes, inability to get stops, and predictable late-game offense, plus Toumani Camara's foul trouble as a turning point; Camara is praised as the week's best Blazer with improved confidence and defense. They discuss the better use of Donovan Clingan vs small lineups, frustrations with Portland's roster depth vs the Spurs, and preview a high-stakes home game vs the Clippers to decide play-in positioning and tiebreakers, while also reassessing Scoot Henderson's progress and fixable finishing issues.

Rip City Races to the Finish Line

Dustin and Sage return for the 437th Holy Backboard Podcast after illness and recap roughly two weeks of Portland Trail Blazers action and standings. Portland sits 40–38 with four games left (Nuggets, Spurs, Clippers, Kings), jockeying for position around the 7–10 play-in spots, with a pivotal April 10 home game against the Clippers likely deciding seeding via conference-record tiebreakers. They review big wins over the Nets, Giannis-less Bucks, Wizards, Clippers (114–104), and Pelicans (118–106), and a frustrating loss to the Mavericks marked by missed layups, turnovers, and free throws. They discuss injuries/uncertainty surrounding Shaedon Sharpe, Robert Williams, and Jerami Grant, critique coaching/rotation decisions, especially the limited development minutes for Scoot Henderson and the usage of Donovan Clingan, and debate play-in matchups, preferring the Spurs over the Thunder. They also discuss excitement for the WNBA's return to Portland ,but criticize the WNBA expansion draft presentation and touch on hopes and worries about new Blazers ownership.

March Madness in Rip City

Dustin and Sage recap the last Portland Trail Blazers week: a messy 124–114 win over Utah marked by 46 threes and 24 turnovers, a frustrating 109–103 loss to a short-handed Philadelphia team despite a fast start, and a 114–95 win over a talent-thin Brooklyn squad. They highlight Scoot Henderson's efficient scoring in limited minutes and strong on-ball defense, plus Donovan Clingan's rebounding, rim protection, and growing poise. The hosts criticize Portland's high turnover rate, poor three-point shooting, and lack of offensive structure under acting head coach Tiago Splitter, and discuss how incoming ownership (Tom Dundon) could trigger front office and coaching changes. They also debate eight-player expansion protections, preview prospects for March Madness, and briefly touch on the WNBA.

The Long & Short of It

In the 435th Holy Backboard Podcast, Dustin and Sage recap Portland's last stretch, including a lethargic road trip (wins over Chicago and Memphis, blowouts vs. Charlotte and Atlanta, and a competitive loss to Houston), a strong Scoot Henderson bounce-back game vs. Indiana, and a frustrating late collapse vs. the Hornets despite a 19-point lead. They debate Scoot's recent struggles, praising his off-ball defense while criticizing how his minutes were handled, and question prioritizing veterans like Jrue Holiday and Jeremy Grant over development, including Donovan Clingan's usage. They argue that coaching and organizational decisions are hurting the team's offense, defense, and fundamentals, express broader frustration with management, then preview upcoming games against Utah, Philadelphia, and Brooklyn, and briefly discuss draft/watchlist college prospects.

No Man's Land

In the 434th Holy Backboard Podcast, Dustin and Sage recap a Lunar New Year event before discussing the Portland Trail Blazers' uneven post–All-Star stretch: an embarrassing 157–103 loss to Denver, a 92–77 win at Phoenix, and a close 124–121 loss to Minnesota, leaving Portland 28–31 and effectively fighting for the 10th seed and poor lottery odds. They criticize coaching decisions and recurring defensive lapses, argue Jrue Holiday's on-ball/clutch role and turnovers are hurting development, and push for more responsibility and possibly starting Scoot Henderson. They highlight Donovan Clingan's strong play, including a big game vs Phoenix, and call for more usage and better schematic support. Major injuries include Shaedon Sharpe's left fibula stress reaction, ending his season, and ongoing concerns about Deni Avdija's back. They preview games at Chicago, Charlotte, and Atlanta, and discuss the roster

Cling Kong, Camara Right the Ship in Rip City

Dustin and Sage recap the Portland Trail Blazers' week: ending a six-game losing streak with a win over the Memphis Grizzlies in Scoot Henderson's return, a second win over Memphis, a 49-point third quarter blowout of the 76ers (with Joel Embiid out), a road loss to the Timberwolves, and an ugly but successful closeout win over the Utah Jazz highlighted by Donovan Clingan's big stat line. They discuss Scoot's impact as a playmaker, his improved scoring efficiency, and concerns about fouls, turnovers, shooting variance, and pace, as well as frustration that Scoot and Shaedon Sharpe have barely played together due to Sharpe's calf strain and other injuries. The episode highlights Toumani Camara's strong recent stretch (including a big game vs. the 76ers and defense on Tyrese Maxey) and Clingan's growth as a rebounder, passer, shot blocker, and occasional floor spacer, while noting team issues like rebounding, turnovers, and struggles versus stretch bigs. They assess Portland's play-in positioning around the All-Star break, argue coaching has contributed to fundamental mistakes and an unsustainable fast pace, and debate roster decisions involving two-way limits (City Sissoko and Caleb Love), Matisse Thybulle's roster spot, and potential cuts. The conversation also shifts to league-wide tanking incentives and possible fixes to the draft system, recommends a Locked On Blazers episode about the possibility of the Blazers leaving Portland and Moda Center renovation plans, and closes with thoughts on All-Star Weekend

Happy Scoot Day

All The Small Things

Welcome to the 431st edition of the Holy Backboard Podcast! Hosts Dustin and Sage delve into the Portland Trail Blazers' recent performance, highlighting the highs and lows of their latest games against teams such as the Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, and Washington Wizards. They discuss key player performances, game stats, and areas for improvement, such as free throw shooting and defense. The episode also speculates on potential trade moves ahead of the deadline, focusing on rumors involving players like Jrue Holiday and the impact of possible trades on the team's future. Tune in for an in-depth analysis of the Blazers' current standing and strategic insights on how they can bounce back in the upcoming games! 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Welcome 00:14 Recap of Recent Games 02:33 Analyzing Team Performance 03:17 Free Throw Woes and Shooting Struggles 06:27 Defensive Issues and Player Limitations 20:03 Trade Deadline Speculations 26:46 The Giannis Trade Dilemma 27:16 Evaluating Giannis' Value and Trade Options 28:10 Potential Trade Packages for Giannis 29:55 Risks and Rewards of Trading for Giannis 36:14 Blazers' Upcoming Games and Predictions 46:36 Final Thoughts and Trade Deadline Speculations

Loving Caleb's Contributions

In the 430th episode of the Holy Backboard Podcast, Dustin and Sage discuss the Portland Trail Blazers recent performance, standing at 22-22 and ninth in the Western Conference. They analyze the team's games against the Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers, and Sacramento Kings, highlighting key players like Deni Avdija, Shaedon Sharpe, and Donovan Clingan. The hosts also provide insights into upcoming games against the Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, and Washington Wizards, debating strategies and potential outcomes. With the NBA trade deadline approaching, they consider possible roster moves and reflect on the Blazers' development and playoff prospects. Tune in for an in-depth chat about the Blazers journey, key players' performances, and future outlook!

Sitting Solid at the Halfway Mark

In the 429th edition of the Holy Backboard Podcast, Dustin and Sage discuss the challenges of aging, the current season's impact on the Portland Trail Blazers, and the development of players. They discuss recent games, injury updates for key players like Deni Avdija and Jerami Grant, and assess the Blazers' playoff chances. Discover mid-season evaluations of players like Shaedon Sharpe and Donovan Clingan, potential trade rumors, and the team's strategy moving forward. Join for an in-depth look at Rip City's hopes and hurdles.

Back from the (Jrue) Holidays.

In the 428th episode of the Holy Backboard Podcast, hosts Dustin and Sage discuss their holiday experiences and delve into the current state of the Portland Trail Blazers. They examine the team's recent performance, notable wins, player development, and injury updates. The podcast highlights Donovan Clingan's improvement, the strategic challenges posed by upcoming games against strong opponents like the Rockets, Knicks, and Warriors, and the potential impact of trade decisions and player injuries on the team's future. The episode also explores the controversial strategy of fouling when ahead by three and outlines potential roster adjustments that may be necessary due to the impending 50-game cap for two-way contract players Caleb Love and Sidy Cissoko.

Unlocking Shaedon Sharpe's Potential

Welcome to the 427th edition of the Holy Backboard Podcast! Join Dustin and Sage as they delve into the latest happenings with the Portland Trail Blazers. They discuss Sage's basketball card collection hobby and provide personal updates, including Dustin's upcoming holiday plans and a string of unfortunate events involving his glasses and chiropractic visits. Key highlights include an in-depth analysis of the Trail Blazers' performance, focusing on crucial games against teams such as the Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons, and Orlando Magic. The hosts ponder trade possibilities for key players like Jerami Grant and Jrue Holiday, and explore the challenges and strategies the Blazers must navigate to achieve their trade season and playoff aspirations. They also talk about the development of young talent like Shaedon Sharpe and the potential of players like Yang Hanson in the G League. Dive into the intricacies of the Blazers roster dynamics, trade scenarios, and what it will take for them to secure a playoff spot. Happy Holidays to all and Go Blazers!